Bill Clinton: “Good morning. We come together this weekend to celebrate Independence Day, our 221 years of freedom, and the fundamental…”

“Good morning. We come together this weekend to celebrate Independence Day, our 221 years of freedom, and the fundamental values that unite us as one America: All of us should have an equal chance to succeed, and all of us have the same obligation to work hard, to be law- abiding citizens, to give something back to our community, to earn in our generation the freedom our Founders established. These are the values that have guided our efforts to end welfare as we know it. Today I want to talk to you about the progress we have made over the last 4\1/2\ years, the changes now underway, and what we must do--all of us--to make sure that welfare reform honors those values, too. For 4\1/2\ years, my administration has been committed to putting an end to the old welfare system that trapped too many families in a cycle of despair. Working with the States, we first launched welfare reform experiments in 43 States that emphasize work and personal responsibility. Then last summer, I signed historic legislation that revolutionized welfare into a system that supports families and children but demands work from those who are able to perform it. It was a dramatic step, but we knew the time was right to put an end to a system that was broken beyond repair. As of July 1st, just a few days ago, welfare reform has taken effect in all 50 States. This week the old welfare system came to an end. Now a new system based on work is taking its place.…”